Billie Jackson
Wed, Read, and Dead, the third novel in the Mystery Bookshop series by V.M. Burns is a delightful read. As interesting as the mystery is, it is the characters that make me love this series so much and this book is no exception! The fact that the book includes poodles and a wedding are icing on a perfectly lovely cake. The regular characters are strong, fun, kind and witty from Samantha Washington to the college-girl sometimes helpers. Samantha is delighted, and a bit puzzled, that her extremely dependent mother has found a wonderful and wealthy man to play prince charming to her southern bell. Sam is more than willing to help with the wedding plans, but between a short deadline and the bride’s unrealistic and lavish expectation, the event is becoming a nightmare for the bookstore owner. When the groom’s sister-in-law “gifts” the happy couple with a wedding planner, the news should be greeted with delight, but they have all just met the woman and no one else thinks that she right for them. The bride so badly wants to make a good impression on the snobby sister-in-law that they all accept the nightmare to come, but they have no idea what a nightmare it will be. The murder of the planner is not a real surprise since it appears that they are not the only ones ready to strangle her, but until the murder is solved, the groom is suspect number one. I was delighted to receive an ARC of the book via NetGalley mostly so I could read it early, but I also enjoy sharing my love of Ms. Burns books with my friends. #NetGalley, #WedRead&Dead